If you saw a boy walking down the street, you could immediately tell if he was part of the Hitler Youth by his outfit and whether or not he was wearing the distinct uniform. There were slight differences between the uniforms of the Deutsche Jungvolk and the Hitler Jugend, but in general, they were very alike. The most important item in the uniform was the notorious brown shirt. Originally, the Hitler Youth started as a part of the Storm Troopers, a.k.a the Brown Shirts, and when the organization became its own program they kept the customary shirt. Black shorts or pants, depending on the season, accompanied the shirt, as well as a many special accessories. A lanyard with a whistle was worn by all the boy leaders, and each type of lanyard represented a certain rank. Shoulder straps were popular but not always worn. An armband with the Nazi symbol, or swastika, was also common, though not all the boys wore them all the time. Different hats were worn at different times, but the one most commonly worn was a military-style light brown cap. A black neckerchief was another essential component of the uniform. It was also worn by the League of German Girls. Almost all the boys dressed in grey knee socks, though sometimes they wore white ones instead. The uniform’s footwear consisted of either oxfords or boots for conveniences sake, but there were never any official shoe requirements. Hitler Youth leaders with certain specialized jobs, such as a musician, had slightly different outfits during ceremonies or formal occasions, but generally had the same uniform ("Hitler Youth: Specific Garments").
(A photo of an authentic Hitler Youth dagger.)
One of the most important and often prized tools of the Hitler Youth was the dagger, or the HJ Fahrtenmesser. It had the motto “Blut und Ehre (Blood and Honor)” inscribed on it, as well as the swastika in a white nad red diamond in the center of the handle. The dagger was worn on a metal sheath attached to the waist belt. Theoretically, every male Hitler Youth member had a dagger once they passed their basic training, though often they were delayed in receiving theirs due to the family’s finances ("Hitler Youth Accessories: Dagger").
(A sketch of the official League of German Girls uniform.)
The outfit of Bund Deutscher Mädel resembles a private school uniform in many ways. The official uniform of all BDM members was generally composed of a dark blue skirt, a white blouse, and a black neckerchief. The official dark blue skirt was made of wool, featuring a centered pleat in front as well as two covered pockets. The length varied depending on current fashions but it ranged from mid-calf to knee length. The official white blouse was worn with the collar down and usually featured two pockets. The name of the official neckerchief, which was worn by both the male Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls, was the Fahrtentuch. It was fairly large and triangular in shape and made of light-weight brushed cotton in order to give it a slight sheen. A leather knot was used to hold it in place. Sturdy black shoes were also part of the uniform. Earrings and jewelry were prohibited, though some girls got away with small earrings or a simple necklace. For girls that belong to poorer families, they could simply wear something as close to the uniform as they could get. For example, they would accept brown shoes instead of black or a similar looking dark blue skirt as opposed to the official skirt (Hansen.....summer.html)
(A photo of a BDM climbing jacket.)
One of the most iconic parts of the BDM uniform is the climbing jacket called Kletterjacke. I was made from fawn colored suedette fabric and either a white or tan lining and cotton fabric inside. It had a cut similar to the military uniforms of that time. It was about waist-length and longer in the front and shorter in the back in order to create a slimming silhouette. Just like with the rest of the uniform, there were slight variations, especially in the color of the inside of the jacket, depending on the manufacturer. Sometimes the inside was a dark green, brown, or purple. Four small patch pockets were on the front of the jacket, either pleated or plain, and the buttons have the letters “BDM” and “JM” imprinted on them. The left sleeve also had the Hitler Youth and the GAU triangle sewn near the top (Hansen...winter.html)
If you saw a boy walking down the street, you could immediately tell if he was part of the Hitler Youth by his outfit and whether or not he was wearing the distinct uniform. There were slight differences between the uniforms of the Deutsche Jungvolk and the Hitler Jugend, but in general, they were very alike. The most important item in the uniform was the notorious brown shirt. Originally, the Hitler Youth started as a part of the Storm Troopers, a.k.a the Brown Shirts, and when the organization became its own program they kept the customary shirt. Black shorts or pants, depending on the season, accompanied the shirt, as well as a many special accessories. A lanyard with a whistle was worn by all the boy leaders, and each type of lanyard represented a certain rank. Shoulder straps were popular but not always worn. An armband with the Nazi symbol, or swastika, was also common, though not all the boys wore them all the time. Different hats were worn at different times, but the one most commonly worn was a military-style light brown cap. A black neckerchief was another essential component of the uniform. It was also worn by the League of German Girls. Almost all the boys dressed in grey knee socks, though sometimes they wore white ones instead. The uniform’s footwear consisted of either oxfords or boots for conveniences sake, but there were never any official shoe requirements. Hitler Youth leaders with certain specialized jobs, such as a musician, had slightly different outfits during ceremonies or formal occasions, but generally had the same uniform ("Hitler Youth: Specific Garments").
One of the most important and often prized tools of the Hitler Youth was the dagger, or the HJ Fahrtenmesser. It had the motto “Blut und Ehre (Blood and Honor)” inscribed on it, as well as the swastika in a white nad red diamond in the center of the handle. The dagger was worn on a metal sheath attached to the waist belt. Theoretically, every male Hitler Youth member had a dagger once they passed their basic training, though often they were delayed in receiving theirs due to the family’s finances ("Hitler Youth Accessories: Dagger").
For more information, visit http://histclo.com/youth/youth/org/nat/hitler/hitleru.htm
League of German Girls Uniform
The outfit of Bund Deutscher Mädel resembles a private school uniform in many ways. The official uniform of all BDM members was generally composed of a dark blue skirt, a white blouse, and a black neckerchief. The official dark blue skirt was made of wool, featuring a centered pleat in front as well as two covered pockets. The length varied depending on current fashions but it ranged from mid-calf to knee length. The official white blouse was worn with the collar down and usually featured two pockets. The name of the official neckerchief, which was worn by both the male Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls, was the Fahrtentuch. It was fairly large and triangular in shape and made of light-weight brushed cotton in order to give it a slight sheen. A leather knot was used to hold it in place. Sturdy black shoes were also part of the uniform. Earrings and jewelry were prohibited, though some girls got away with small earrings or a simple necklace. For girls that belong to poorer families, they could simply wear something as close to the uniform as they could get. For example, they would accept brown shoes instead of black or a similar looking dark blue skirt as opposed to the official skirt (Hansen.....summer.html)
One of the most iconic parts of the BDM uniform is the climbing jacket called Kletterjacke. I was made from fawn colored suedette fabric and either a white or tan lining and cotton fabric inside. It had a cut similar to the military uniforms of that time. It was about waist-length and longer in the front and shorter in the back in order to create a slimming silhouette. Just like with the rest of the uniform, there were slight variations, especially in the color of the inside of the jacket, depending on the manufacturer. Sometimes the inside was a dark green, brown, or purple. Four small patch pockets were on the front of the jacket, either pleated or plain, and the buttons have the letters “BDM” and “JM” imprinted on them. The left sleeve also had the Hitler Youth and the GAU triangle sewn near the top (Hansen...winter.html)
For more information, visit http://www.bdmhistory.com/research/summer.html or http://www.bdmhistory.com/research/winter.html
By Mary Grace Frazier
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